My Macao Complaints (2)

[WARNING: The contents of this entry might be disgusting by nature. Not recommended for reading in the time frame of an hour pre or post meal. It is going to be gross and a little too personal.]

Apart from air and water, whatever that is consumed by human beings will produce waste. Using the commode in Macao is not a wonderful experience (with exceptions if you are using one in the top few fanciest hotels or casinos like the Venetian, Wynn, MGM, and a few others). Although I consider the office one of my sanctuaries in Macao, but I am extremely put off when I have to use the bathroom facilities. Despite the nature of the building (the office is located in the top 3 most modern-non-casino/hotel buildings in the whole of Macao and houses government agencies), the basic needs of the users are below par standard. For a building of 23 stories, there are only 6 elevators to service all its users. We even have to stand in line on the ground floor every morning and lunch hour. The lines can be comparable to those at Disneyland.

Anyways, we are talking about the bathroom (a room containing a sink and toilet). Here, I admit that I am spoiled and am prejudiced against this place. The bathroom culture is just grotesque. Of all the countries I have been to and lived in, China ranks worst and Malaysia is not too far behind. No matter what you might say, Macao is still China to me. I have to carry two items with me whenever I need to 'go,' a key to the door of the ladies' bathroom and my own toilet paper. (Yes! What in the world?!! It is an office building that is modern and houses government agencies!) Although it is considered a public toilet to be shared by all companies on the same floor and their users, the lock is to prevent unwanted users and toilet paper and/or cardboard box thieves. You have to provide your own soap and paper towels to dry your hands, as none of them are provided. Thank your lucky stars if there is toilet paper supply if you forgot to bring your own.

Despite being locked, one can smell the place 5 meters away. Visiting the loo is never a pleasant experience. Whenever I approach a stall, I need to keep my eyes peeled just to ensure that I will be relieving myself in the most hygienic manner possible. This is where I really do not understand how the toilet is being used.

1. The toilet seat is up. It is a female bathroom. Why would the seat be up? It is maybe due to...

2. People use a western style toilet the Asian way. The tell-tale markings on the toilet seat justifies my speculations. Some even use it like such with the toilet seat down! Why can't people be civilized enough to use the toilet the right way, and/or the bathrooms build should accommodate both.

3. There is an OPEN waste paper basket next to the toilet. I think it is gross enough if it was used to dispose one's used sanitary napkins (even though it was properly wrapped), but it is also used to dispose used toilet paper once someone is done with their business (whatever business under whatever condition) and exposed used sanitary napkins. Appalling! It is extremely unhygienic. (I understand that there are some other countries and cultures that might have the same practices, but eww... gross! Don't they know that germs and bacteria spread easily, not to forget the smell? They should use a bin with a cover at least!)

Well, maybe people feel comfortable using the toilet like such. I was told that the toilet paper use was practise like such in order to avoid the toilet from getting clogged. (What in the world? Toilet papers should disintegrate with large amount of water.) And using a western style toilet by squatting on it??? Well, that explains why I had a regular supermarket available plastic toilet seat in my 4-star hotel bathroom. The hotel authorities might have thought that it was too expensive replacing the proper toilet seats of their luxurious bathrooms whenever guests (from you know where) stay with them. For economical purposes, it does not matter whether they match or fit the toilet by size.

Mind you, what I have describe thus far is a bathroom from a supposedly decent building. The nightmare is multiplied by, at least, 10 at other places. I would rather hold till I go to a place where I know there are bearable bathroom facilities. And if I REALLY have to go, I would have wipe down the toilet seat (possibly sterilize it with some bacteria killer I carry around with me [I should invest in one of that]), then line the seat with toilet paper (since they do not have paper toilet seat covers here), do my business, and flush everything away, making sure that I thoroughly wash my hands after. I know "Spare me the details!" right? But hey, now, if ever you have the encounter to wait for me when I have to go, I have been blessed with a rather healthy "digestion and disposal" system, and I am not stuck in the bathroom due to complications linked to defecation, but I am spending way time ensuring that the toilet bearable to use and syphilis free! (Yeah, I know... too much information, right? But hey, don't say I did not warn you when you have to go in a country with facilities like such!)

Apart from the aforementioned, do enjoy your experience at a Macao bathroom with long queues, people cutting in line, women talking really loud, and leaving a mess when they are done.